POLICE COURT CASES

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 10

POLICE COURT CASES

Thubsdat Bth May. Prohibition Ordkbs.— Hugh Sme&ton applied for a prohibition order against James Smeaton, blacksmith, of Moigiel.— After evidence, his Worship granted an order for 12 months, the same to apply to the Mosgiel, Otakia, GreyWwn, Green Island, Oubram, and Kaikorai licensing districts. A prohibition order, to apply to the Duuedin licensing diatriot, was also granted against Wm, Henry Stevenson, on the application of his wife, Dora Stevenson. Maintenance.— Alexander Thomson was charged with failing to provide his wife, Elizabeth, with adequate means of support. — Mr Sim appeared for the complainant, and Mr M'Keay for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.— ln opening the case for complainant, Mr Sim said the defendant was a well-to-do farmer, residing near Outram. He and his wife had been living together for about 29 years. For some time Mr Thomson bad been treating his wife with great unkindness, and consequently she waß reduced to a very b»d itate of health, and was advised by her doctor to leave home, the accordingly left on February 6, and had been living away since then. The day she left home the defendant took a loose woman to his house. She remained there the same night, and shortly afterwards went to live there permanently. The defendant would say that thi>, oman was his housekeeper, but he would show thac ne had behaved in a way towards her that was not uiual with a housekeeper. She might be his housekeeper, but she was certainly more than that. Mr Thomson had been living with her since February, and his wife would not go back to live with him. Even if this woman were away, his treatment of his wife had been such that she would not go back. Since she had been away, he had already offered her £1 a week.— Mr M'Keay [ That is coupled with conditions.— Mr Sim continued to say that he would put the written offer in as evidence of the defendant's ability to pay, and if his Worship made an order he would ask that the defendant should be called upon to give security for the payment of the money, as he (counsel) was instructed that defendant was wasting his estate and might leave his wife destitute.— The complainant stated that it came to her knowledge that her husband was " corresponding " with another woman, and she was so put about by it that she was confined to bed for nearly four months. The dootor who attended her advised her to leave her husband's place of residence. She consequently left aud went to stay wi a her son-in-law. Mr Shaw. After she had been away from home for some time she returned with Mr and Mrs Shaw and found the house locked up, and Mrs Waddell and her three children inside. The door was broken open, and Mrs Waddell told one of the children to go for Mr Thomson. When he came he told comnlainant to go to the warm place. Oomplainaut left the house aud had not gone back because she had heard that Mrs Waddoll was still there, and she was afraid to go while she vns there. She had received the following note from her husband ;—" I promise to give you £l per week to live upon so long as you live and stay with me, and away from your family." When she left home she had about £14 which bhe got from a factory to which Bhe sold milk. She had sinoe applied to her husband for money, and he sent her the following note : — "My dear Elizabeth,— Tell me what you want this money for. and you can J . have it at any time if it fs for your own use. — Your loving husband." — "•o Mr C&rew > She did not tell her hm- * whs* übe wanted the money for.— bana '•• t Yon are madly jealous of Mr Thomson, Mr M'ke^ "<<ia»J<la}nont ( No.— Mr M'Keay •, You are you not ?—o ~* *— Oompteinant t Yes ; I will are very fond of hu>. *.ud you are very jealous admit that.— Mr M'Keay : . — >ik.iusm{, (prying): of this particular woman?— Coa^ **'*£cay< J'jd Yes; of this particular woman. — Mr iv '''—^ti you not tear the clothes off her back ?— CompUiuo No; I did not In answer to further queilionß, com plainant stated that her husband was extremely kind to her while shewas ill, but he* afterwards tried to strangle her. That was after Mrs Wad dell had arrived at the house.— Alex. Thomson, eon of the complainant, stated that he lived at home until the eHd of February. Before theu his father used his mother very badly, and she gob into a bad sta'eof health. When witness' mother left home his father brought home a woman. Both she and his father were the wone of drink. She remained at the home all night and went away in the morning. Witness heard that she came back in about a fortnight, but he did not see her until a month after* wards.— Selina Atkioion deposed that about, eight

month* ago she saw the defendant and Mrs Waddell together at the Anchor Hotel. The defendant was lying on a sofa, and Mrs Waddell commenced to kiss and cuddle him.— Elizabeth Barclay stated that she had frequently seen the defendant and Mrs Waddell walking arm in awn in the otaeet.— Mr M'Keay, in opening the oase for the defence, said that in the month of February last the defendant's wife was very ill, and the doctor advised him to send her to a lunatic asylum, but he was very loth to do so. She went to Shaw's, where she remained for a considerable time. While she was there there was a very respectable girl staying with the defendant as servant, but she left, as Mrs Thomson did not return home. Defendant bad consequently to get someone else in her place, and he got the person whose name had been mentioned in court.— Mr Oarew: The woman who is said to have cuddled and kissed him.— Mr M'Keay : Yei ; that appears to be a fact ; but he had to get what woman he could. He is willing now to take Mrs Thomson back and to •end this woman away.— The oase was adjourned for four weeks in order to give the parties an opportunity of coming to some amicable arrangement: In the meantime it was understood that the defendant should pay his wife £1 a week and send away the woman with whom he had been living. WrFB Dksbrtioit. — Robert Muir was charged with deserting his wife, Isabella Muir, and four children, and leaving them without adequate means of support.—Mr Fraser appeared for the complainant, and Mr D. D. Macdonald for the defendant.— Mr Fraser stated that the defendant was a shoemaker in good employment, and was also possessed of freehold property. He had lived with his wife for a number of years, but had lately deserted her. — Complainant dep< sed that she had a number of cows, and kept the house from the money raised from the sale of the milk. In consequence of defendant's conduct she was forced to give up business. He had said that she was a bad woman, and her trade was comequently affected. He had astaulted her frequently, and had said that he wanted to leave her. She could easily maintain herself if her husband would let her alone. Owing to her husband talking about her she sold her oows. She got about £8 10s for them, t- he was not frightened of her husband if he would only use hit hands, bnt sometimes he took up an axe and other "instruments" to her. Her husband suspected her of improper conduct. The reason that he did so was owing to a man servant who slept at the house. One night she wanted some matches, and she went into his room in the dark when he was in bed and asked him if he could tell her where to get some matches. Her husband came in while she was in the room. There was, however, no improper conduct on her part.— James Cunningham, labourer. In the employ of the complainant, stated that on last Christmas Day the defendant threw a loaf of bread at his wife's head, and behaved very badly to her. He afterwards saw him break his wife's door in with an axe. Her screams on that occasion woke him up. Her husband also acoused her of behaving improperly with boys about the place.— The defendant stated that he was only earning 24s a week. The quarrels between himself and wife wern owing to her keeping a man about the place against his wishea.— After other evidence had been given for the defence, bis Worship said he was satisfied that Mrs Muir was very grossly to blame. At the same time, some provision would have to be made for the children Irving with her. He would make an orJer that the defendant should contribute 2s 6d a week towards the support of each child, but no order with regard to the wife. Monday. May 12. Assault, — Thomas Hunter was charged on remand with having on the sth inst assaulted, beaten, wounded, and ill-treated Absolon Smith, whereby he caused great bodily harm to the said Absolon Smith.— Mr Macdonald appeared for complainant, and Mr J. Macgregor for defendant.— Mr Maodonald Bftid the charge as laid was to do grievous bodily harm, and if the bench came to a decision that defendant was guilty he would be committed for trial. Couunsel would therefore nsk that it be altered to pne of common assault.— Mr Macgregor being willing that this course should be taken, the information was altored, and defendant called upon to plead. — Defeudant: I gave him one hit.— Mr Macgregor then intimated that since his client bad taken his case into his own hands he no longer appeared for him.— Mr Maodonald pointed out that one hit was sometimes very effeotive. If defendant admitted he struck complainant once he pleaded guilty to the assault, but he (Mr Macdonald) would ask the bench to hear the evidence. Counsel having recited the faces of the case, called complainant, who, being sworn, said he was a tailor, carrying on business in Dunedin. He visited the Occidental Hotel about half -past 6 o'clock on the evening of the sth inst in pursuit of his business. He went into the bar and sat down. There were five people there, and a quarrel arose between two of theraseUrquuart and Dickison. The formpr told the latter to go outside, which he did, but speedily returned, and on entering the bar stumbled (or was pushed) on to witness, wbo was sitting in a chair. Witness pushed him out of the room, and subsequently on leaving the hotel wai knocked down and rendered insensible by someone, he could not say whom. Two men who saw witness knocked down went with him to the doctor's, and were to wait for him to come out again, but did not do so. Before witness was knooked down defendant had been in his shirt sleeves, and on witness coming out of the dootor'n he was met by some man whom he believed to be defendant, because he bad no coat. He was accosted by this man, who said be believed he had made a mistake. Witness tried to get a good look the man, but it was through Constable O'Sullivan that be was traced and identified. Dickison was the cause of the row in the hotel — Dr Jeffcoat deposed that complainant called on him on the sth. The wound was a severe laceration of the whole eyelid, and it would require an operation to restore the eye to its former condition. It was possible that the thumb or a ring on the little finger might have caused the wound. The medical expenses were about £4 4s, and it would be increased by about twice that amount before complainant was recovered.— John Urquhart, gardener, was in the hotel on the evening of the sth. Mr Clifford and Mr Towsey went into the hotel with witness. A squabble arose, and witness saw Smith go to the door with Dickison. Hunter was then in the bar. but after this he said he bad struck a man wearing a high hat, whioh witness concluded was Smith, as he was the only one present wearing such a bat. — Robert Clifford said he was at the Occidental Hotel on the sth. Urquhart and Dickison were quarrelling, and Urquhart told Dickison to go outside. Dickison, who went outside, came rushing in again, and, receiving a shove from Urquhurt, fell on to Smith, who was sitting in a chair. Smith got up and pushed Dickison out of the room. Hunter went out shortly after this, and subsequently said he had given some one " a hit," and they would have no more fighting. He said it was a man wth a belltopper.— Henry J. Walter, licensee of tbe Occidental Hotel, stated that being told he was wanted he came downstairs, and saw Mr Smith's face bleeding. Witness seeing the wound was very severe advised Smith to go to the doctor, which he did.— Constable O'Sullivan said he arrested defendant, when he said, " I don't deny the charge. He shoved me out of the door. I did not mean it for him."— Mr Macdonald Intimated that this was all tbe evidence, and accused then made a statement on oath that a quarrel arose between Urquhart and Dickison about money matters. Smith pushed the speaker out of the place, and he then cave Smith one " liok." He (the speaker) had nothing on his hand at the time.— Mr Macdonald said as far as character went he knew defendant wall, and knew him to be a most respectable man.— The Bench considered the case was dearly proved, and it was evidently a very grievous assault ; but, in consideration of what had been said, they would be very lenient, and would fine defendant £6 and coatsone half of the fine to go to the prosecutor. The alternative would be one month's imprisonment.

A movement; ia on foot to establish a flax millers' association at Auckland. At a preliminary meeting it was stated that one of the principal objects of such an association would be to properly classify all flax pasting through its hands, and bo place it in such a way on tbe American and Home markets as to ensure pommand of the top prices. tb &88 transpired that George Bird, one of the - Who were bundled out of the Auckold meu »-^j j@UOO Jn money and other proland asylum, v. "'tuffllfctpnr M»d to** all this perry when he wab >. 4. ijjjggram hat bfen went to the Government. — „ ooti*i(leringo o ti*i(lering received that th^ Government h. - . t^ the situation, and will be responsible froi maintenance of the old men in the meantime..

Catarrh, when chronic, becomes very offensive. It is impossible to be otherwise healthy, and, at the same time, afflioted with catarrh. This disagreeable diieue o»a be cured by the me of Ayer'i Sarup»rlUs>